Qiao Yan originally had plenty of grievances about He Yanzhou wanting to see him in that little dress again, but the moment he thought about the supercar coming his way, the corners of his mouth couldn’t stop curving upward.
Cursing one second and grinning the next, Qiao Yan felt like he was on the verge of schizophrenia. Clutching his pillow, he rolled around a couple more times before finally flattening himself out like a giant star on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling.
Fine, whatever, I’ll wear it.
It’s not like I haven’t worn it so many times already anyway; one more time won’t hurt.
Besides, there’s a Bugatti Bolide on the line! That is a Bugatti Bolide!
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: Of course you can, daddy! You can watch whenever you want!!
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: [Kitten covering its face in embarrassment.jpg]
Yan: Good girl.
Qiao Yan was happily plotting exactly how he would show off the car once it arrived when his WeChat suddenly rang.
It was a message from Cao Jingtong.
Cao Cao Doesn’t Dally: Yan! Free tonight? Let me take you out to broaden your horizons!
QY: ?
Cao Cao Doesn’t Dally: My cousin managed to snag two tickets to Undercurrent—the underground boxing ring! Super, super, super thrilling!
Qiao Yan blinked and rolled over to sit up.
QY: Is it legitimate? Is it illegal? Will we get raided?
Cao Cao Doesn’t Dally: You’re overthinking it. It’s just a highly exclusive club; you can only get in if a member brings you. Everyone on stage wears masks.
QY: Oh, then let’s go!
After replying to the message, Qiao Yan switched back to Moyu. He stared at the chat history with Yan for a moment, when a sudden stroke of inspiration hit him.
He had been in a bad mood lately and had forgotten to actively show concern for the old man. This was highly detrimental to the development of their relationship!
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: I haven’t checked in on daddy for so long. What is daddy busy with right now?~
After hitting send, he tossed his phone aside and went to his wardrobe to rummage for clothes to wear out tonight.
Halfway through his search, his Alipay let out a sharp ding.
Fifty thousand yuan.
Memo: Pocket money.
Qiao Yan: “…”
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: Thank you daddy! Daddy is the best! But Little Peach didn’t mean it like that, I just purely wanted to chat with daddy~
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: [Kitten nuzzling.jpg]
Yan: Mm.
Yan: At an auction.
An auction? Qiao Yan’s interest was instantly piqued.
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: Wow, what kind of good stuff is daddy bidding on?
Yan: A necklace.
A necklace?
Mary Sue plotlines instantly flashed through Qiao Yan’s mind—the domineering CEO dropping a fortune at an auction for his beautiful woman.
Danger, danger, danger!!
It couldn’t be for Qiao Yunguang, could it? Or for some other random little mistress?
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: Who is it for?~
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: [Peeking kitten.jpg]
Silence fell on the other side for a few seconds.
Yan: For you.
Qiao Yan’s hand shook, and his phone nearly smashed into his face.
Has the old man been cursed lately? First a supercar, now a necklace—this completely contradicts his previous stingy nature of handing out money ten thousand at a time!
Little Peach Bites Real Hard: Really?! Daddy treats me way too well! What does the necklace look like?
Yan: Black diamond.
Yan: I’ll give it to you once I win the bid.
At the auction venue.
He Yanzhou put down his phone and redirected his gaze to the stage.
Jiang Cai had been holding it in next to him for a long time, and finally, she couldn’t resist leaning over: “Brother, you were chatting with Little Peach just now, weren’t you? Smiling so gently!”
He Yanzhou remained expressionless: “You saw wrong.”
“I did not see wrong!” Jiang Cai lowered her voice. “The corners of your mouth were curved up; there’s absolutely no way I missed it!”
“And you actually want to buy this necklace for her!” Jiang Cai dramatically clutched her chest. “Do you have any idea how much that necklace costs? The starting bid alone is enough for me to buy a whole year’s worth of limited-edition bags!”
“And?”
“And it means you’re smitten!” Jiang Cai’s eyes sparkled. “Quick, tell me, what does Little Peach look like? Is she exceptionally beautiful? Is her voice sweet? What stage of the relationship are you guys at?”
He Yanzhou adjusted his cuffs with an unbothered face, offering no response.
Jiang Cai refused to let it go: “Stop faking it, brother. I saw your phone gallery the other day. It was just a glance, but those cat ears were definitely Little Peach, right?”
“No.”
“Oh, come on, tell me,” Jiang Cai persisted. “You even bought her a car! A Bugatti Bolide! I begged you for three months and you wouldn’t buy one for me!”
“Do you need a car?”
“I need that sentiment!” Jiang Cai glared at him. “You treat her way better than you treat your own biological sister.”
He Yanzhou glanced at her: “Your allowance is more than enough. If you want it, go buy it yourself.”
Jiang Cai pouted and fell silent. In reality, she was quite happy. He Yanzhou had barely kept anyone around him all these years; now that he finally had a bit of human warmth in him—even if it was an online romance—it was a good thing.
The auction was being held in the grand ballroom of the most high-end hotel in Ningcheng. The crystal chandeliers refracted dazzling light, and the air was filled with the scent of expensive perfume and wealth.
He Yanzhou and Jiang Cai took their seats in the VIP section, and soon, the black diamond necklace was brought out.
Resting on a velvet tray, the necklace flowed with a mysterious luster under the spotlights. The main stone was a rare black diamond, surrounded by meticulously set accent diamonds. The pendant featured a minimalist collar design—simple, yet packed with visual impact.
When introducing it, the auctioneer made a point to emphasize that this was the final masterpiece of a deceased master designer, and the only one of its kind in the world.
The starting bid was eight million yuan.
Jiang Cai sucked in a sharp breath and leaned into He Yanzhou’s ear: “Brother, you really want to buy this? This could buy an entire apartment!”
He Yanzhou didn’t say a word, simply raising his paddle.
“Nine million!”
“Twelve million!”
The price escalated quickly, and He Yanzhou followed along unhurriedly.
Just as the price soared to twenty million, a laughing voice suddenly drifted over from diagonally ahead: “Twenty-five million.”
He Yanzhou paused.
Jiang Cai was also stunned and turned her head to look.
It was a man around forty years old, dressed in a well-tailored suit with his hair combed immaculately. He was turning around to nod in their direction, a hypocritical smile plastered across his face.
Huo Siyuan.
Jiang Cai’s expression changed instantly. She remembered this man. Back when He Yanzhou had first taken over the He Group, Huo Siyuan had been one of his most trusted seconds-in-command.
And the result? This man had used his position to steal the He Group’s core technology and client data, turning around to start his own company while throwing accusations back at He Yanzhou for poor management and nepotism.
During that period, He Yanzhou had been questioned by the board of directors and slandered by the media. The pressure had been so immense that Jiang Cai had seen him sitting in his study until dawn multiple times. Although He Yanzhou eventually used ruthless, lightning-fast methods to clean up the mess, the bitter taste of betrayal was something even she, a bystander, remembered vividly.
Huo Siyuan actually dared to show his face, and he even dared to bid against He Yanzhou?
He Yanzhou’s face remained devoid of expression. His gaze merely lingered on Huo Siyuan for two seconds before he calmly raised his paddle: “Thirty million.”
Huo Siyuan followed with a smile: “Thirty-five million.”
“Forty million.”
“Forty-five million.”
The price shot up like a rocket.
The ballroom gradually fell dead silent as everyone turned to watch these two men who were clearly locked in a personal feud. Even the auctioneer’s voice shook slightly; this had already far exceeded the actual value of the necklace itself.
Anxious, Jiang Cai secretly tugged at He Yanzhou’s sleeve: “Brother, how about we just let it go? It’s just a necklace.”
He Yanzhou ignored her, raising his paddle once more: “Fifty million.”
Huo Siyuan seemed to hesitate for a moment, but in the end, he still smiled and raised his paddle: “Fifty-five million.”
He Yanzhou didn’t follow immediately this time. He leaned back against his chair, then lifted his eyes toward the auctioneer, his voice calm: “Sixty million.”
An uproar erupted across the room.
The smile on Huo Siyuan’s face finally stiffened. He stared at He Yanzhou for a few seconds before shrugging, making a “you win” gesture, and refrained from raising his paddle again.
The auctioneer brought down the gavel.
“Sold! Congratulations to Mr. He!”
Jiang Cai let out a long sigh of relief, though her heart immediately began to ache over the money: “Sixty million… Brother, have you lost your mind?”
He Yanzhou didn’t answer. He simply stood up, straightened his suit cuffs, and walked toward the backstage area. As he passed Huo Siyuan, the other man spoke with a smile, “President He is as generous as always.”
He Yanzhou didn’t stop his stride, only throwing back a single line: “I can’t compare to how calculating President Huo is.”
Huo Siyuan’s face twisted slightly, but He Yanzhou had already walked far away.
Exiting the auction, He Yanzhou had the driver drop Jiang Cai off at her home first.
Jiang Cai snuck a look at He Yanzhou. He was staring out the window at the passing night scenery, his jawline tense—clearly in a foul mood.
“Brother,” Jiang Cai said softly, “don’t pay any mind to people like Huo Siyuan. He did that on purpose just to disgust you.”
“I know.”
“Then you still spent sixty million on a necklace…”
“I wanted to.”
Jiang Cai pursed her lips. She understood her brother too well; he appeared calm and self-controlled, but in his bones, he was incredibly proud and stubborn. Once he decided on something, no one could stop him. Just like when he was betrayed by Huo Siyuan back then, he had carried all the pressure entirely on his own, dragging the He Group back from the abyss and making it even better than before.
But the more a person was like this, the heavier the things weighing down on their heart.
The car came to a stop outside Jiang Cai’s apartment building, and she bade He Yanzhou goodbye before getting out.
The black sedan merged back into the traffic, this time heading toward the east side of the city.
Lin Lang’s boxing gym was located deep inside an unremarkable alley. The storefront sign was low-profile, but the interior held a completely different world. He Yanzhou was a regular here, having started coming back when he was still a struggling young man in the conglomerate.
Pushing the door open, a wave of sweltering heat and noise hit him square in the face. The lighting inside the gym wasn’t bright, and the air was thick with the scent of sweat, leather, and disinfectant.
People were currently sparring in the ring. The dull thuds of fists hitting flesh mingled with the shouts of the spectators, exploding with a raw, wild realism.
Lin Lang was leaning against the bar mixing a drink. Spotting He Yanzhou, he raised an eyebrow and smiled: “Yo, rare guest. In a bad mood?”
“It’s alright.” He Yanzhou shed his overcoat, preparing to go change.
“Come off it, I know that look of yours way too well,” Lin Lang slid a glass of ice water toward him. “What’s wrong, which blind fool annoyed you this time?”
He Yanzhou didn’t respond. He tilted his head back and drained the water, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Open a ring for me.”
“Sure,” Lin Lang gestured with his chin toward the side. “The usual spot, I kept it reserved for you.”
The ring He Yanzhou frequently used was in the corner, relatively quiet. He put on his protective gear and gloves, loosening his wrists and neck as his joints let out slight popping sounds.
Lin Lang leaned against the ropes to watch him: “Going solo? Want me to find someone to spar with you?”
“No need.”
He Yanzhou had already begun his warm-up movements, his shoulder and back muscles flexing into smooth lines beneath his T-shirt.
Lin Lang shrugged and stepped aside. He knew He Yanzhou’s temperament; this man didn’t come to spar for technique, he came to vent. That masochistic streak of wanting to smash all his emotions to pieces through his fists was something Lin Lang had witnessed far too many times.
He Yanzhou put on a mask. Because many of the members here were powerful elites, it wouldn’t look good if word got out.
The mask was a bronze cast of a lion’s head, its mouth slightly parted to reveal sharp, rigid fangs, hinting at a brutal, non-human power.
He Yanzhou leaped onto the ring and launched his first round of strikes against the heavy bag.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
His fists were incredibly fast and heavy, each strike carrying the sound of breaking wind. The heavy bag swung violently under the assault, its chains groaning under the strain. Sweat quickly beaded across He Yanzhou’s forehead, dampening his hair and causing it to stick to his temples. His eyes were deeply dark, and his entire focus was locked onto his fists, as though the entire universe had shrunk down to this single target that needed to be destroyed.
Huo Siyuan’s hypocritical smiling face, those questioning eyes at the board meetings, the grievances and compliance he had been forced to swallow during his youth…
Every repressed, dark, and hidden emotion transformed into raw power at this moment, pouring out entirely through his fists.
Sweat rolled down his jawline, dripping onto the canvas. He Yanzhou’s breathing gradually grew heavy, his chest heaving, but his movements didn’t slow in the slightest—instead, they became faster and more vicious.
Watching from the sidelines, Lin Lang couldn’t help but let out a whistle.
Honestly, if the people who were scared to death of He Yanzhou in the business world saw him like this, they would probably faint from terror. The man who usually sat in an office wearing a tailored suit was currently acting like an enraged beast, every inch of his muscle bursting with explosive power. That intense contrast…
Tsk tsk tsk, truly thrilling.
Meanwhile, over at the entrance on the other side of the gym.
“Yanyan, hurry up! What are you dawdling for!” Cao Jingtong grabbed Qiao Yan’s arm, charging inside excitedly.
Qiao Yan looked entirely reluctant, stumbling along as he was dragged forward: “Cao Jingtong, has water logged your brain? Bringing me to this kind of place in the middle of the night? I don’t even know how to box!”
“Who’s asking you to box? We’re here to watch!” Cao Jingtong’s eyes shone. “I’m telling you, this place is incredibly wild! Real men should come to places like this to experience a blood-pumping atmosphere!”
Qiao Yan rolled his eyes: “It’s seriously loud.”
Despite his words, he was still hauled inside by Cao Jingtong.
The moment they stepped through the door, the deafening cheers and the pungent scent of sweat made him knit his brows. Today, he was wearing a loose, cream-colored sweater and light-colored jeans, making him look completely out of place standing among a crowd of shirtless, sweating men.
Cao Jingtong was in high spirits: “Let’s go, let’s go over there! I heard there’s a top-tier expert fighting today!”
Helpless, Qiao Yan could only squeeze through the crowd after him. As they passed the bar, he caught sight of a man in a floral shirt mixing drinks. The guy was quite handsome, but the smile he aimed at Qiao Yan was a bit indecent.
At the same time, Lin Lang had also noticed Qiao Yan.
There was no helping it; this kid was way too striking. His skin was so fair it seemed to radiate light, his features were as exquisite as a painting, and his eyes carried a hint of half-awake daze and disdain—like a little white cat that had accidentally wandered into a wolf’s den.
Lin Lang threw a wink his way.
Qiao Yan immediately averted his gaze. That unreliable Cao Jingtong—what kind of ghost place had he dragged him to!
Just as he was about to pull Cao Jingtong and beat a swift retreat, Cao Jingtong suddenly let out a sharp, earsplitting shriek right next to him.
“Oh my god!!! Am I seeing things?!” Cao Jingtong pointed off toward He Yanzhou’s direction in the distance. “Wearing the lion mask… could he actually be Undercurrent’s No. 1—Lion?!!!”